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And yet the White House may be moving in that direction, regardless. Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew told Senate Democrats Thursday that the administration is eyeing several trillion dollars in spending cuts with no revenue increases attached, a position that evoked a harshly negative reaction. Both House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who were summoned to a White House meeting with Obama on Thursday, have said they won’t back such a plan.

Obama and other top White House officials personally called Democratic leaders on Wednesday night to say they “were closing in on a framework” with Boehner for a “grand bargain” that would cut spending by more than $3 trillion over the next decade, including entitlement programs, boost the debt ceiling and require a rewrite of the Tax Code.

But the president and Boehner cautioned that “there was no deal yet when media reports flashed across the Capitol on Thursday afternoon on an imminent agreement. Top White House officials, including Vice President Joe Biden, spoke to top Democrats personally about the state of play while also seeking information on Boehner, including whether he could round up the votes for a “grand bargain.”

The level of Democratic suspicion aimed at White House chief of staff Bill Daley is also at a high, as lawmakers think he’s leading Obama away from Democrats on Capitol Hill.

If a “grand bargain” is reached, it could be a huge win for Boehner. With Cantor initially opposed to anything that smells of a tax increase, Boehner had to back away from his talks with Obama and reiterate his opposition to any and all tax increases. But should the conference turn against it because of revenue increases, Cantor will be seen as the victor.

But Boehner and his top aide, Barry Jackson, were convinced that the logic of a “grand bargain” would bring it again to the forefront. Boehner continued to quietly explore the possibility with Obama, and he continued to push it with his GOP colleagues.

He told lawmakers in a closed session of House Republicans earlier this month that they needed to do something major, but they wouldn’t get all they wanted under a Democratic president. Boehner told reporters on Thursday that he has been preparing his conference for a compromise.

Boehner also dined with a small group of House Republican freshmen Wednesday night — a meeting his staff said was simply a pizza party, but freshman sources dubbed an important moment in the speaker making inroads with newly elected lawmakers.

And on Friday, Republicans will meet once again in the Capitol basement for a “special” conference meeting where the outlines of a compromise might be unveiled.

At least one player has never been for a big deal. Cantor has long been cool on a major piece of legislation that hikes the nation’s debt ceiling and on Thursday said he thinks “the time is limited at this point, and I’m not aware of any deal that’s even close.”

Do the tea nutters do anything but complain and stomp their feet??? Seriously, where is that alternative to Obamacare? Where is the job creation the f--k--rs ran on in 2010? Teachers and policemen are living high on the hog but someone making a quarter million a year is struggling. The nutters are clearly insane. Never thought I'd say that, but the evidence is irrefutable at this point.

Of course with everything happening in secret there can be no public in put into the plan. What happened to Obama's pledge of an open government? Like Gitmo and a whole host of other lies we were told. But on this one it looks from what has been reported publicly, Give-Away Obama is giving away the farm on the promise of future revenue hikes. Boehner hasn't the ability to do that deal. He isn't in control of the House. He is the most ineffective Speaker I can remember when it comes to delivering the votes. Combine that with Obama's ineffectiveness as a leader and you can easily see why nothing can get done.

Jim Jordan is all bluff and blow; there is no "strong support" in the country for the terrible Republican plan passed. It's just more typical ugly Republicanism: serious slashing pain for most of US while the corporations still get their welfare billions and the wealthiest citizens still get US to subsidize their jets and yachts and their second, third, fourth and twentieth homes. It is insane to mandate a two-thirds majority to do congressional business, like raising taxes.

It's too late for a big, complex deal; there is no time to sufficiently study all the cuts and new revenues proposed. President Obama should back away from all negotiating and should tell Congress to do its simple constitutional duty: raise the debt ceiling so the debts and integrity of the United States should not be questioned. Republicans have done it before -- dozens of times -- and should therefore have no problem remembering how to do it. It's simple and can be done in an hour. Since Republicans artificially created this unnecessary crisis, the onus is on them to vote for a clean debt-ceiling-raising bill. If they don’t, they face political extinction (by way of suicide, since their wounds are all self-inflicted).

Just Gitter-Done! The cutting/slashing of the bloated government and programs can be done later. I really don't think anything of significance will take place until Obummer is sent back to Chicago anyway!

I don't get it. Most Americans know how to balance a budget. You live within what cash you have comilng in monthly. No extravangancies AT ALL when you have nothing left after Paying Your Bills first. Stop Obama 's Party Allowances, Use Computer Conferencing to eliminate Air Force One/Private Jet Over use nationally and internationally---no travel until bills paid,no handouts to those who do nothing at all but Pay no Taxes and live off the rest of "us" tax paying individuals. AND Obama stop your threats of ALWAYS eliminating Defense Dollars vs your damn hand out programs. Who do you think is putting their lives at stake to defend justice and liberty for all of us????? DC Govt officials work 24-7 until something is done AND that means you to, Mr President. I am fed up with your DIshonest _ _ _ _ !

I love how the GOP is so fractured and hopeless that they're acting like a minority party in a Parliamentary gov't. Passing bills that can't pass? Grandstanding? Leaving coalitions in a huff? This is a dumb, petty, rudderless group of people.

The short-sighted millionaires got the stooges they wanted, alright. Now they'll get the next great depression they deserve.

I love how the GOP is so fractured and hopeless that they're acting like a minority party in a Parliamentary gov't. Passing bills that can't pass? Grandstanding? Leaving coalitions in a huff? This is a dumb, petty, rudderless group of people.

This sounds so dumb and is a sad effort at transference.

Obama walked out in a huff. Neither he nor the democrats have any plan at all.

So let me ask all you Democrats\Liberal\Progressives would you pass a massive expenditure cutting bill without knowing what is in it and based on getting some unknown amount of taxes increases on unknown taxpayers in 3 or 4 years and all based on the word of Republicans.

See that happened to the American people and believe me when I say "THEY DIDN"T FLIPPIN' LIKE IT!"

The only difference is the Republicans have never said "we will have to pass it to find out what is in it!"

You Libs crying and mudslinging about lawmakers wanting to read legislation before they make an opinion really are despicable. Your Blind Faith in your Lib media outlets and so-called leaders smells of cronyism. I would think responsible adults would want something read before it is decided.

Ohh and you rich-hating Liberal Useful Idiots puppeting and repeating the words of your MILLIONAIRE Senators and President like mindless drones about the evil rich.....HAHAHAH Fools.

Obama's cover company, GE, profits were up almost 25%. Must be nice for Immelt to preach to other companies while his pays no taxes during Obama's recession.

Are you really that stupid to allow Millionaires to tell you, you should hate millionaires? Are you really so gullible that you turn a blind eye to companies your dear leader loves while lambasting corporate tax breaks for the ones that do not support him?

I understand but could never condone this behavior. Good-hearted Germans allowed Death Camps in their towns too. As long as they got their handouts they could pretend the pee on their legs really was rain.

the only party that benefits from turningpeople into victims and destitute fools are the Dems.

Exactly how is wanting the taxpaying workers not to be over taxed anti-worker.

The liberal lefty lemmings continue to push their redistributing theivery ideology on the productive wealth creating Americans and don't care if they bankrupt every company (which results in out of work people, moron) and the country in pursuit of some delusion entitlement of fairness.